Agitation means and method for ice making



Nov. 22, 1932'. J. J. CATRON AGITATION MEANS AND METHOD FOR ICE MAKING Filed April 26. 1950' J P may;

Patented Nov. 22, 1932 STATES JOHN J'. CATRON, F BONHAMyTEzXAS AGITATION MEANS AND METHOD FOItICE MAKING Application filed April 26, 1930. 8 Serial N'b.f447,719.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in agitation means and methods for ice making.

One object of the invention is to provide a 5 method for thoroughly agitating water in an ice can so as to remove the impurities and air bubbles therein, whereby clear, colorless and wholesome ice is produced. I

A further object of the invention is to pro- 0 vide means for introducing diverging jets of water under pressure into the bottom of the ice can whereby the water contained therein will be thoroughly agitated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for introducing compressed air into the bottom of the ice can whereby the air will serve to agitate the water at opposite sides of said can. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for alternately discharging water and air from a tubular conductor at the bottom of the column of water in an ice can, whereby the column of water is completely agitated;

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l'is a view partly in elevation and The hanger includes a tubular shank 14 Y which extends from the bracket 12 and is provided at its outer end with radial slots 5 partly in section of a device constructed in V 15. A cylindricalrocker 16, having aco' necting pipe 17 extending therethrou'gh is mounted within the tubular shank with the opposite ends of'the pipe 17 protruded through the slots 15. An elOngatedtube-lS T is screw threaded onto the lower end of thepipe 17 and depends into the can. Theopposite and lower end of the tube 18 is tapered and provided with a nozzle 19 suitably se- I cured to the tube. The nozzle has "an arcuat end provided with a plurality of radial or diverging ports 20. These port's connect with the bore of the tube 18 so that any'fluid contained in the tube may beexpelledthere 6 from in diverging directions. 5

The upper end of the pipe 17 isconnecte d by'a union -21 to a flexibletubu'larconductor 22. The op'posite end of this conductor is connected by a union 23 to an outlet port-24 v of anintermittent flowvalve 25. Thisvalve has an inlet port 26 which is connected bya conductor 27 to an air compressor, (nots hown) for supplying compressed air to said valve, The valve'also hasan exhaust port 28. The valve is of the rotating barrel type, with the barrel thereof rotated in any suitabl manner, The valve iscons'tructed so that as the barrel 29 rotates, the outlet port 2 1 and the intake port 26will be intermittently'connected, thus intermittently supply: ing compressed air through the conductor22 to the tube 18. Also the'rotation of the barrel will intermittently connect the port 24 and the'exhaust port 28, thus allowing the air within the conductor 22, pipe 17 and-tube 18 to esc'ape through the valve andthe port .28.

When the ports'24 and 28 are connected the water will enter the tube 18"through the ports 20 in the nozzle and thereby force out any air which may be withinthe tube. When the ports 24' and '26.: are connected, the'compressed air from the .conductor27 will enter "the conductor 22 andtube 18, thereby forcing out the water within thetube through the "ports 22 in diverging jets. As the ports 20 are smaller than the central bore of the tube 18 the water will be expelled through said ports under increased velocity and penetrate the water below the nozzle to all thecorners at the b ottom of the canfthereby thoroughly will rise within the tube to the" level of the water in the can and expel the air in said tube v conductor, means for pivotally supporting the conductor in the container with its lower end adjacent the bottom of said container,

said conductor being free to swing from side to side of the container, and a nozzle at the bottom of the conductor having a plurality of downwardly directed ports.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. JOHN J. CATRON.

through the exhaust port 28' thereby causing the tubethrough its own weight to resume a vertical position. It will be noted that the swinging action of the'tube, due to its ward oppositesides of the can.

i -As the valve 29 rotates and connectsthe v the water in thecan as the jets have sufficient ports 26 and 24, the compressed air entering the tube 18 will expel the water from the tube. as hereinbefore explained. It will be noted that the jets of water being expelled from the nozzle will thoroughly penetrate velocity to displace the water in said can.

By this action the water in. the lower porcontained in the can is completely and thortion of the'can is thoroughly agitated. The

swinging of the tube through its buoyancy will distribute the compressed air to opposite sides of the can, which air on rising in the water will thoroughly agitate the upper portion ofsaid water. Obviously the water oughly agitated.

Various changes the difierentparts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be -made within the scope of the appended claims ejecting jets' tion in the bottom of said body of water to V transversely aerate the entirebodyof water. 7

; 1 The method of body or water,

What I claim, is

agitating water in the water in an uprightcontainer, then. agitating the size and shape of art of ice making which consists, in storing f buoyanc-y, may take place in either direction to-' the lower portion of the body of water by H of water thereinto, alternately entire body of water byv ejectthereinto atthe bottomof said and'changing said point of point of water injecagitating the ing jetsof air air injection from the I 2. The method of agitating water in the art'of ice makingwhich'consists, ins toring water in an upright container, then agitating ejectingywaterin a wardly, thereinto, alternately agitating the. 7

waterby ej ecting downwardly entire body-of the lower portion Ofthe body. otwater by plurality of jets downatthe bottomofsaid body of water spaced jets of air whereby the body ofwater is transversely aerated. v V r 3. In an ice maklng dev ce, the combination with an; upright water container, of a fluid t 

